US11975578B2 - Electrical connector mounting bracket for a trailer hitch receiver - Google Patents
Electrical connector mounting bracket for a trailer hitch receiver Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US11975578B2 US11975578B2 US17/485,828 US202117485828A US11975578B2 US 11975578 B2 US11975578 B2 US 11975578B2 US 202117485828 A US202117485828 A US 202117485828A US 11975578 B2 US11975578 B2 US 11975578B2
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- sidearm
- hitch receiver
- receiver tube
- electrical coupling
- shaped clamp
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Active, expires
Links
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 33
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 33
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 33
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000002452 interceptive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000013011 mating Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60D—VEHICLE CONNECTIONS
- B60D1/00—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices
- B60D1/58—Auxiliary devices
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60D—VEHICLE CONNECTIONS
- B60D1/00—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices
- B60D1/58—Auxiliary devices
- B60D1/62—Auxiliary devices involving supply lines, electric circuits, or the like
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60D—VEHICLE CONNECTIONS
- B60D1/00—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices
- B60D1/58—Auxiliary devices
- B60D1/62—Auxiliary devices involving supply lines, electric circuits, or the like
- B60D1/64—Couplings or joints therefor
Definitions
- the present disclosure relates to new and useful improvements in brackets for mounting electrical couplings to trailer hitch receiver tubes.
- towed vehicles such as, for example, a trailer to having signal lights, including break and turn signals.
- the towed vehicle may also have brakes.
- the electrical system of the towed vehicle must be connected to the electrical system of the towing vehicle.
- the electrical systems are connected by a pair of mating plugs or sockets. Often the socket connected to the towing vehicle is left loosely hanging from the back end of the vehicle near the trailer hitch receiver.
- U.S. Pat. No. 9,016,707 discloses such a mounting bracket that mounts an electrical coupling to a trailer hitch receiver tube. While this mounting bracket meets its respective objectives and requirements, a drawback is the propensity of the bracket to interfere with the hitch receiver tube opening because it is mounted over the front of the hitch receiver tube and can shift and block the opening. Accordingly, there is a need for a new and improved mounting bracket that attaches to the hitch receiver tube without interfering with the tube opening.
- Embodiments of the invention provide an electrical coupling mounting bracket for attachment to a hitch receiver tube that does not interfere with the receiver tube opening and which positions an electrical coupling off to the side of the receiver tube.
- an electrical coupling mounting bracket for a hitch receiver tube has a U-shaped clamp having a first and second upstanding legs connected at corresponding ends by a bridge.
- the first and second upstanding legs together with the bridge define a space conforming to the cross-section of the hitch receiver tube.
- Each of first and second upstanding legs having an outwardly extending leg flange at an end opposite of the bridge.
- the bridge is configured for abutment to a first flat of the hitch receiver tube.
- the mounting bracket further includes a sidearm that is separate from the U-shaped clamp.
- the sidearm is removably attached to said U-shaped clamp so as to extend in a cantilevered fashion in a sideways direction away from the U-shaped clamp.
- the sidearm has a broad face that is configured for abutment to a second flat of the hitch receiver tube that is located opposite from the first flat of the hitch receiver tube.
- An electrical coupling mounting flange is on the sidearm at a cantilevered location located sideways relative to the U-shaped clamp.
- the electrical coupling mounting flange extending generally perpendicular to broad face of the sidearm.
- a pair of bolt holes, one in each of the leg flanges, are aligned with a pair of bolt holes in the sidearm.
- Two bolts extend through the bolt holes between the leg flanges and the sidearm to removably attach the sidearm to the U-shaped clamp and tighten the bridge of the U-shaped clamp and the broad face of the sidearm against the first and second flats of the hitch receiver tube with a bolt on opposite sides of the hitch receiver tube, thereby securing the bracket to the hitch receiver tube.
- FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, exploded perspective view of an electrical coupling mounting bracket for a hitch receiver tube constructed in accordance with the principles of at least one embodiment of the invention
- FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic, perspective view of an electrical coupling mounting bracket for a hitch receiver tube mounted to a hitch receiver tube in accordance with the principles of at least one embodiment of the invention
- FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3 - 3 in FIG. 2 ;
- FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic, exploded perspective view of an electrical coupling mounting bracket for a hitch receiver tube constructed in accordance with the principles of at another embodiment of the invention.
- an electrical coupling mounting bracket in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is indicated generally at 10 .
- the bracket 10 includes a clamp 12 and a sidearm 14 , which collectively are secured to a hitch receiver tube 16 for the purpose of mounting an electrical coupling or socket 18 to the hitch receiver tube at a sideways direction therefrom.
- the electrical coupling or socket 18 is for connecting the electrical system of a towing vehicle (not shown) to the electrical system of a towed vehicle (not shown) for controlling lights, brakes, etc., of the towed vehicle.
- the clamp 12 is U-shaped and includes a pair of upstanding legs 20 and 22 that are connected at corresponding ends by a bridge 24 .
- the legs 20 and 22 together with the bridge define a space 26 that conforms to the cross-section of the hitch receiver tube 16 so as to partially encircle the exterior of the tube at an inwardly disposed location relative from the lip 28 of the hitch receiver tube.
- Each leg 20 and 22 has an end opposite of the end connected by the bridge 24 and this end is provided with an outwardly extending leg flange 30 and 32 , respectively, formed generally perpendicular to the leg.
- Each leg flange 30 and 32 comprises a bolt hole 34 and 36 , respectively.
- the sidearm 14 has opposite ends 38 and 40 and opposite broad faces 42 and 44 that extend between the opposite ends.
- An electrical coupling mounting flange 46 is on the sidearm 14 at end 38 to be located sideways relative to the U-shaped clamp 12 and the hitch receiver tube 16 .
- the length of the sidearm 14 is selected as needed for the desired sideways positioning of the mounting flange 46 .
- the mounting flange 46 has a broad face 48 that is arranged generally perpendicular to the broad face 42 and generally parallel to the opening 51 of the hitch receiver tube 16 .
- the mounting flange 46 includes a socket positioning opening 50 through the broad face 48 and a plurality of bolt holes 52 disposed around the opening.
- the socket positioning opening 50 can be sized to mate with a standard plug or socket 18 of a trailer electrical connection, such as, for example a 7-pin cylindrical socket.
- the socket 18 is secured to the mounting flange 46 by bolts or threaded fasteners 56 .
- the sidearm 14 further includes a pair of bolt holes 58 and 60 that are arranged to align with bolt holes 34 and 36 .
- the sidearm 14 is removably secured to the U-shaped clamp 12 by two bolts 62 and 64 which extend through the bolt holes of the U-shaped clamp and sidearm.
- the bolts 62 and 64 are secured and tightened to attach the mounting bracket 10 to the hitch receiver tube 16 with the bridge 24 of the U-shaped clamp 12 and the broad face 42 of the sidearm 14 against opposite flats 66 and 68 of the hitch receiver tube with a bolt on opposite sides the hitch receiver tube 16 .
- each upstanding leg 20 and 22 can include flat surfaces 74 and 76 , respectively, to correspond with the flats 70 and 72 .
- the distance between flat surfaces 74 and 76 can be selected so that the surfaces abut against the flats 70 and 72 or provide a slight gap therebetween (not shown).
- FIG. 4 there is shown an alternative embodiment of the sidearm.
- sidearm 78 has a similar construction to sidearm 14 discussed above. The primary difference is found in the socket positioning opening 80 which is configured for receiving a flat plug or socket (not shown).
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Transportation (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Lighting Device Outwards From Vehicle And Optical Signal (AREA)
- Motorcycle And Bicycle Frame (AREA)
- Clamps And Clips (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims (8)
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US17/485,828 US11975578B2 (en) | 2021-09-27 | 2021-09-27 | Electrical connector mounting bracket for a trailer hitch receiver |
CA3175644A CA3175644A1 (en) | 2021-09-27 | 2022-09-23 | Electrical coupling mounting bracket for a trailer hitch receiver |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US17/485,828 US11975578B2 (en) | 2021-09-27 | 2021-09-27 | Electrical connector mounting bracket for a trailer hitch receiver |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20230095311A1 US20230095311A1 (en) | 2023-03-30 |
US11975578B2 true US11975578B2 (en) | 2024-05-07 |
Family
ID=85685103
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US17/485,828 Active 2042-11-10 US11975578B2 (en) | 2021-09-27 | 2021-09-27 | Electrical connector mounting bracket for a trailer hitch receiver |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US11975578B2 (en) |
CA (1) | CA3175644A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20230182590A1 (en) * | 2021-12-09 | 2023-06-15 | Robert Theodore Derstadt | Charging adapter and mobile power supply |
Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5288094A (en) * | 1992-10-23 | 1994-02-22 | Putnam Rex D | Bracket for supplying an electrical connector |
US5593170A (en) * | 1993-07-08 | 1997-01-14 | Chiu; Donald W. | Trailer hitch box beam cover with integral trailer wiring connector |
US6080014A (en) * | 1998-06-01 | 2000-06-27 | Steiler; Richard W. | Trailer circuit connector mount |
US20100213687A1 (en) * | 2009-02-24 | 2010-08-26 | Patrick Kermit Mcdaniel | Trailer hitch assembly |
US8215656B1 (en) * | 2008-06-20 | 2012-07-10 | Hopkins Manufacturing Corp. | Trailer wiring connection |
US20130049327A1 (en) * | 2011-08-31 | 2013-02-28 | Curt Manufacturing, Llc | Electrical Mounting Bracket For Hitch |
US10355401B1 (en) * | 2018-08-07 | 2019-07-16 | Brian Billings | Trailer wiring enclosure |
-
2021
- 2021-09-27 US US17/485,828 patent/US11975578B2/en active Active
-
2022
- 2022-09-23 CA CA3175644A patent/CA3175644A1/en active Pending
Patent Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5288094A (en) * | 1992-10-23 | 1994-02-22 | Putnam Rex D | Bracket for supplying an electrical connector |
US5593170A (en) * | 1993-07-08 | 1997-01-14 | Chiu; Donald W. | Trailer hitch box beam cover with integral trailer wiring connector |
US6080014A (en) * | 1998-06-01 | 2000-06-27 | Steiler; Richard W. | Trailer circuit connector mount |
US8215656B1 (en) * | 2008-06-20 | 2012-07-10 | Hopkins Manufacturing Corp. | Trailer wiring connection |
US20100213687A1 (en) * | 2009-02-24 | 2010-08-26 | Patrick Kermit Mcdaniel | Trailer hitch assembly |
US20130049327A1 (en) * | 2011-08-31 | 2013-02-28 | Curt Manufacturing, Llc | Electrical Mounting Bracket For Hitch |
US9016707B2 (en) * | 2011-08-31 | 2015-04-28 | Curt Manufacturing, Llc | Electrical mounting bracket for hitch |
US10355401B1 (en) * | 2018-08-07 | 2019-07-16 | Brian Billings | Trailer wiring enclosure |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CA3175644A1 (en) | 2023-03-27 |
US20230095311A1 (en) | 2023-03-30 |
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